Tamping vs Relighting

[cajomu]

I've been smoking a pipe for nearly fifty years and, until quite recently, I always tamped to keep the tobacco burning. But, recently, I started to gently knock the ash from the bowl about halfway through the smoke and only tamp when I get near the end. It seems to me that this improves the flavor in the second half of the smoke and helps keep the pipe from overheating (tamping makes the tobacco burn hotter, IME).
Does anybody else do this?

 

[jpmcwjr]

Removing ash doesn't change how the ember is going unless there's a good breeze. If the pipe is already going fine, I pretty much don't tamp, but if it starts to wind down, a light tamp and a couple of big pulls often saves it. So, if tamping in that situation makes the ember hotter, all's good.

 

[redone]

Thanks to the tips here by @npod I am now getting through all my bowls without a relight by hot tamping. Appreciate it!

 

[cajomu]

@jpmcwjr
Removing the ash exposes the ember to more air, whether there's a breeze or not and, IME, a cooler smoke is a better smoke. Try it, you may like it.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I agree that cooler is better, but exposing the ember to excess oxygen is counter productive. In other words, it gets plenty of air when drawn, but excess when there's a wind blowing over the chamber.

 

[cajomu]

@jpmcwjr
This thread is about what to do when your tobacco is no longer burning well. You can relight or tamp and I'm suggesting based on my experience that removing the ash may also work. I don't understand why you would think that it counterproductive to introduce more oxygen to an ember when it is burning low. More oxygen means it will burn better, which also means you may hot have to relight or tamp.
Again, I say give it a try before you knock it.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I don't understand why you would think that it counterproductive to introduce more oxygen to an ember when it is burning low.

I don't. But dumping ash, unless extraordinarily thick or tamped too hard, doesn't increase the airflow to any meaningful degree. And, yes, it's been tried. I dump ash from time to time, but not "to increase airflow".
And as I pointed out, there are times when a layer of ash can mitigate the effects of strong winds.

 

[bnichols23]

Agreed, John. Personally I tamp as I feel it's needed, usually hot. Gentle tamp & relight of a cold bowl's a different issue, for me at least.

 

[cigrmaster]

I normally use 2 fingers over the bowl to get it going again when it looks like it is going to die. I have been using this method for years. When I dump ash around the halfway point then I will do a cold tamp and relight my pipe.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Same, two fingers or a thumb on the rim, but some times I have to suck like a $5.00 hooker to revive it.

 

[bassbug]

but some times I have to suck like a $5.00 hooker to revive it.

See? There's your problem right there...you really need to move up to higher class of...well, never mind :rofl:

 

[crashthegrey]

Once you figure out the tamping you will find relights are really only necessary if you get distracted and forget to smoke, most of the time.